Grade 5
Earth and Space Science (ESS)
Topic: Cycles and Patterns in the Solar System
Content: Solar system includes the sun and celestial bodies that orbit the sun. Each planet in the solar system has unique characteristics

Lesson Plans
  • The Sun- learning about the sun's structure and features (ORC # 471)
  • Planet Simulations (Astronomy for Kids website)
Discrepant Events

STEM Events

Simulations (Project WET, Project WILD, etc.)
  • Day and Night: Sun-Earth-Moon cycle demonstration (ORC # 5247)
Web sites/ORC sites
Literature
  • Night Wonders by Jane Peddicord
  • Planets Around the Sun by Seymour Simon

Text References
  • Learning about the sun, moon, planets, and stars by World Book Inc. (activity ideas)

Related Vocabulary words
  • planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
  • sun
  • solar system
  • celestial bodies
  • sunspots
  • solar flares
  • planetary rings
  • photosphere, chromosphere, corona, convection zone, radiative zone, core (layers of the sun)